Level



(No Model.)

J. A. TRAUT.

v LEVEL. No. 523,021. Patented July 17,1894.

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1%. M. ELM fistus.=7l.1?'aut 6 dwmd4 By his Jlftone UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JUSTUS A. TRAUT, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 523,021, dated July1'7, 1894.

Application filed February 3,1894.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J USTUS A. TRAUT, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Britam, 1n the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plumbsor Levels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to plumbs or levels, and to the method or processof manufacturing and of assembling the same.

The principal objects of my present invention are to furnish the plumbor level-stock with a light and efficient bubble-glass case capable ofdiametrical expansion at one end thereof, but otherwise very rigid orinflexible; to provide means whereby said case may be quickly secured inposition in, and locked against longitudinal movement with relation tothe stock, and at the same time be capabio of lateral movement tofacilitate the accurate adjustment thereof with relation to said stock;and to providean improved method of making or assembling the structure.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is an edge view of a portion of a plumb-stock embodying mypresent invention, the cover or face-plate being removed. Fig. 2 is acentral Vertical section of the same taken in line aa, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa view similar to Fig. 1, of the opposite edge of said plumb-stock, thecover or face-plate being removed. Fig. 4 is a top view of thebubble-glass case. Fig. 5 is an end viewof the same, looking toward theleft hand in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an under side view of said bubble-glasscase. Fig. 7 is a plan View of the sheet-metal blank from which thebubble-glass case is formed. Fig. 8 is a front view of one of thelocking-plates for securing the bubble-glass case in the plumb-stock,said figure showing the bent form of the locking-plate preparatory toits being secured to the plumb-stock in the man ner shown in Fig. 2.Fig. 9 is a side elevation drawn in projection with Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is afront view of the locking-plate for the opposite end of saidbubble-glass case. Fig. 11 is a sectional View of a portion of theplumb-stock illustrating the manner of securing one of thelocking-plates thereto, a set- Serial No. 498,989. (No model.)

ting-punch being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 12 is a side elevation,partially in section, of a portion of a level embodying my invention.

Similar characters designate like parts in all of the figures.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, 1 have shown the bubble-glass, its case,andthe securing and locking devices applied to one end of an ordinarystock, said bubble-glass and its case being located in a transverserecess formed in said stock, and constituting a plumb-device, whereas inFig. 12 said parts are shown located in a longitudinal recess formed ina projection midway of the length of the levelstock B and constituting alevel-device.

Inasmuch as my improvements are capa:

E and E, for adjustably attaching the case to the stock, andguard-plates or covers, F and F, the construction and organization ofwhich parts will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The stock B has a bubble-glass and casereceiving bore or chamber, 2,formed transversely therethrough from the side edge I) to the oppositeside edge I) of said stock, and will have the usual sight-opening 3,transversely to, and bisecting the bore 2. This case-receiving bore 2will preferably be of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of thecase (J to permit the lateral adjustment of said case as desired. Thebore 2 will also have a concentric enlargement at each end thereof, asshown at 5 and 6, to form shoulders, 7 and 8, respectively, againstwhich the locking-devices may bear when securing them in place. Coveringthe ends 5 and 6 of the bore 2 are the plates or caps, F and F,respectively,whioh in the preferred form thereof herein shown aredisk-shaped plates let in to the faces I) and b of the stock and withtheir outer faces flush with the stock; said plates being preferablyarranged eccentric to the bore 2, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and

being held in place by screws, 9, at one side thereof.

The bubble-glass case is in the nature of a tube divided" longitudinallyat one side thereof, as shown at 10, Fig. 6, and has an oblongsight-opening, 11, formed in the opposite side thereof midway of thelength of said tube; formed midway of the sight-opening 11, at eitherside thereof, are inwardly-proecting prongs, or sight-points, 12 and 13,whose apexes are in alignment and coincide with a line drawntransversely through the center of said sightopening, as designated bydotted line 0-0, Fig. 4. The adjacent side edges 22 and'23 of the tubeor case 0 are oppositely notched near their ends, as shown in Fig. 6, toform openings, 14 and 15, through which the plaster 16 (usually employedfor securing the bubble-glass D in said'tube) may be inserted, and alock-notch, 17, is formed in one end of said tube to receive the key,18, of the locking-device E, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

The tube, or case C, in the form thereof herein shown and justdescribed, is constructed as follows: The oblong rectangular blank A,shown in Fig. '7, is'first stamped from aflat sheet of metal of therequisite thickness, said blank being formed to have oppositely-disposednotches 20 and 21 at the opposite side edges 22 and 23, and near eachend thereof, as shown, and the centrally-disposed transversesight-opening 11 with the oppo'sitely-disposed inwardly-proj ectin gsight-.-

points, or prongs 12 and 13, at the side edges thereof, and also havingthe locknotch 17 formed at one end thereof midway of the width of saidblank. bent widthwise around a former to form a tube having its adjacentside edges 22 and 23 slightly remote, as shown in Fig. 6.

v The attaching plates E and E, in the form thereof herein shown,consist, each, of a disk shaped plate centrally perforated or recessedas shown at 30 and 30,respectively, and usually havingoutwardly-projecting peripheral barbs, or prongs, 25 and 26, preferablyin alignment one with the other. The body of this plate, or thatportionthereof between the base of the barbs or prongs 25 and 26, will, inpractice(except when the prongs may be omitted) be fractionally less indiameter than the diameter of the enlarged recesses 5 and 6 formed inthe stock. To enable the securing plates to be inserted in the enlargedends 5 and 6 of the bore 2, so that the apexes of its barbs or prongswill be contiguous to the side wall of said bore, each plate is bowed orbent outwardlyat its center, as illustrated in Figs.

8, 9and 10, so that the distance between the apexes of thetwo barbs orprongs 25 and 26 of said bowed plate, will be slightly less than thediameter of the enlarged end of the bore 2. One of these plates, hereindesignated the locking-plate E, will have a substantially circularcentral opening 30 of sufficient diam- This blank is subsequently eterto permit one end of the tube G to be inserted therein, as clearly shownin Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. This plate E will also have aninwardly projecting prong, 18, contiguo us to the edge of said opening30, which prong is in the nature of a locking-key, and is adapted forentering the lock-notch 17 .formed in the end of the tube. The otherattaching plate has an oblong central opening 30, through'which thescrew-threaded shank of a screw, 27, may be extended, which screw will,"as shown in Fig. 2, be screwed into a plug, 28, secured in the end ofthe tube, said oblong slot permitting the lateral adjustment of thetube, which will be clearly understood by reference to said figure. Whenthe prongs or barbs are omitted, the plate itself should be slightlylonger in a direction transverseto said bend thereof, than the diameterof said enlargements 5 and 6, so as to insure a sufficient engagement ofthe plate withthe stock, when the bent plate is straightened out duringthe process of assembling the implement.

In assembling the parts, the locking plate E, in its bowed or normalcondition, will be setin the enlarged end 6 of the bore or-chamber2 withits prongs or barbs bearing against 'the shoulder 8'contiguous to theside wall of in condition to receive the end ofthe case or tube 0. Afterthe locking-plate E is fixed in the manner just described, the tube orcase, with the bubble-glass therein, will be inserted into thetube-receiving-bore 2 from theend 5 thereof with its end projectedthrough the opening 30 in the said locking-plate E with its lock-notch17 contiguous to, andin engagement with the locking-key 18, after which:the securing plate E will be secured in the opposite enlarged end 5 ofthe bore 2 in the same manner that the locking-plate E was secured inits recess, the screw 27 is then inserted through the oblong opening 30in said plate E with its shank screwed into the plug 28 in the end ofthe tube, after which the tube will be properly adjusted laterally andthe-screw tightened to firmly clamp the parts in adj usted position.After theparts are so assembled the covers Fvand F will then be placedover the ends of the bore 2 and 'be securediin place by the screws 9.

The method here described of organizing and securingtogether the severalparts of the level, will be readily understood by a comparison of theseveral figures of the drawings in connection with the precedingdescription.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In aplumb or level, thecombination with the stock having transversely through the same abubble-glass-case bore or chamber having a shoulder and an enlargedrecess at one end thereof, of the centrally-perforated casesupportingplate set against the shoulder of said bore and within said recess andin rigid engagement with the stock, the bubble-glasscase located in saidbore in adjustable connection at one end thereof with said plate, andmeans for supporting the opposite end of said case, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a level or plumb, the combination with a stock having thebubble-glass-receiving bore or chamber, of centrally-perforatedattachingplates secured, one, at each end of said chamber-transverselythereof, and a bubble-glass'carrying case adj ustably secured in saidchamber between said plates, substantially as described and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a levelor plumb, the combination with a stock having thebubble-glass-receiving bore or chamber, of two remotely-disposedtransverse plates located in said chamber and having central openingstherein, and a tubular bubble-glass-case having one end thereof extendedthrough and supported in the opening 1n one of said plates, and havingthe opposite end thereof in bearing-contact with and ad ustably securedto the other of said plates, substantially as described and for thepurpose set forth.

4. In a level or plumb, the combination with a stock having thebubble-glass-receiving chamber, of two transversely-disposedcentrally-perforated plates secured one at each end of said chamber, abubble-glasscase supported between said plates and having a sightopeningwith inwardly projecting prongs or points, and a bubble-glass located insaid case contiguous to said prongs, substantially as described.

5. In a level or plumb, in combination, a stock having abubble-glass-receiving bore therethrough, two transversely disposedcentrally-perforated plates secured in said opening, one at either endthereof, a bubble-glasscase pivotally supported at one end in one ofsaid plates, and having a sight-opening with inwardly projecting prongsor points, a bubble-glass located in said case contiguous to saidprongs, and means in connection with one end of the case and one of theplates for adjusting the case laterally with relation to said plate,substantially as described.

6. In a level or plumb, a tubular bubbleglass-supporting case open atone side thereof and having a sight-opening with inwardlyprojectingprongs or points located centrally with relation to the length thereof,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

' 7. The combination with a stock having the bubble-glass-receivingchamber, of a tubular bubble-glass-carrying case located in said chamberand having a lock-notch at one end thereof and a sight-openingintermediate to its ends with inwardly-projecting prongs at the centerthereof, a locking-plate secured in said chamber transversely thereofand having a locking-prong in engagement with the lock-notch of thecase, and means for ad ustably supporting the opposite end of said case,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a plumb or level, the combination w th a stock having thebubble-glass-receiving chamber formed therein, of two perforatedattaching plates secured one at either end of said chamber transverselythereof, a bubbleglass-case having a plug or wall at one end .thereofand adj ustably secured at this end to one of the attaching plates bymeans of a screw extended through said plate into said plug or wall, andpivotally supported at its opposite end by the other plate, and meansfor closing the ends of said chamber, substantially as described.

9. In a plumb or level, the combinationw ith a stock having thebubble-glass-recelving chamber, or bore, enlarged at its ends to formshoulders, of two centrally-perforated attaclr ing plates bearingagainst said shoulders, and having prongs, or barbs, projected into thewalls of said chamber, and a bubble-glasscase pivotally supported at oneend in one of said plates and adj ustably-secured at its opposite end tothe other of said plates, substantially as described.

10. In a level or plumb, the combination with the stock having abubble-glass-recelving bore, of two remotely disposedcentrallyperforated securing-plates having peripheral prongs projectedinto the walls of said chamber, a bubbleglass-case having one endthereof projected through and in locked ongagement with one of saidplates, and ad ustably connected at its opposite end by means of a screwto the other of said plates, and a bubble-glass located within saidcase, substantially as described.

11. In a plumb or level of the class specified, the combination with thestock, of the hereindescribed bubble-glass-case it consisting of asheet-metal tube divided longitudinally at one side and having oppositeto such division a central sight-opening with oppositely-disposedinwardly-projecting prongs, or sightpoints, substantially as described.

12. The herein-described bubble-glass case for plumbs or levels, itcomprising a longitudinally-divided sheet-metal tube havingplaster-receiving openings contiguous to its side edges at either endthereof and having a centrally disposed sight-opening at the oppositeside thereof with two oppositely-disposed inwardly-projectingsightprongs, or points, located centrally of said sight-opening withtheir apexes in alignment, substantially as described.

13. The herein-described process of secur- [0 ing the bowed portion ofsaid plates inward against said shoulders and embedding :the

=prongs thereof in the walls of said bore,"and next, adjustably securingthe bubble-glasscase between and to said plates, substantially (asdescribed.

JUSTUS A. TRAUT.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, FRED. J. DOLE.

